What happened
During a night flight, a private pilot attempted to locate an unlit airport. Radar data indicated that the aircraft flew at various low altitudes on two separate occasions during the approach. Witnesses near the accident site reported seeing the airplane flying at a low altitude until it struck a utility pole. Following the impact with the pole, the aircraft burst into flames and descended into a nearby canal.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the wreckage was conducted, which revealed no anomalies regarding the engine or the aircraft itself.
Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot had not selected the frequency required to operate the pilot-controlled runway lighting system at the private airport. Additionally, a witness reported that the runway lights were not illuminated at the time of the incident. Toxicology results performed on the pilot showed an ethanol concentration of 0.14% in the vitreous fluid, indicating the pilot was intoxicated at the time of the accident.